Opening Night High Could Be Fleeting

If you’re a Clipper, you quickly learn that good things usually don’t have a lot of shelf life.

The rollicking 114-84 victory Wednesday over the Seattle SuperSonics was worth savoring for a day but awaiting is a tough six-game stretch that begins tonight at Portland.

Five of the six games will be on the road and the lone home game is against the champion Detroit Pistons. Last season, the Clippers were 10-31 away from Staples Center.

“Obviously, we looked at this stretch,” Coach Mike Dunleavy said after Thursday’s practice. “It’s nothing easy for sure.”

Forward Elton Brand said playing on the road at the start of the season could define the team. After tonight’s game, the Clippers play at Golden State on Saturday, return home for the Pistons on Monday and begin a three-game trip Wednesday at Indiana.

“This is something where we can find out about ourselves and see if guys step up and continue to step up,” Brand said.

“It can be good, as long as we keep playing well.”

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There was encouraging news on center Chris Kaman, who has a sprained left knee. Kaman is eligible to return from the injured list before the Nov. 12 game at New York.

“Everything with him looks pretty good,” Dunleavy said. “The swelling is getting out of his ankle. I think that he’ll be fine.”

Not as encouraging is the news on Kerry Kittles, whose right knee is still tender from arthroscopic surgery in June. Kittles has yet to practice with his new team.

Rookie guard Quinton Ross is expected to be available after missing the opener because of a bone bruise on his left foot.

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TONIGHT

at Portland, 7

Site -- Rose Garden

Radio -- XTRA (690/1150).

Records -- (2003-04) Clippers 28-54, Trail Blazers 41-41.

Record vs. Trail Blazers -- (2003-04) 2-2.

Update -- Nick Van Exel made an immediate impact with Portland as he scored 20 points to lead the Trail Blazers to a season-opening 78-75 victory over Golden State, the team he played for last season. Portland acquired the 33-year-old Van Exel in a July trade, sending Dale Davis and Dan Dickau to the Warriors.